IRISH

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 April 1935, Page 5

IRISH

; HATRED OF ENGLAND sDENIED BY DE VALERA. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. “The suggestion of a plebiscite was made on the spur of the moment in reply to the assertion that hatred of England was the dominating influence in Irish politics,” said Mr Eanion de Valera, president of the Irish Free State, in an interview with the “Sunday Dispatch,” London. “The Irish neither hate their neighbours nor hate each other.

“The allegation that I hate England is untrue. I hate no nation. On the contrary, my ambition is to see the nations peacefully co-operating. He added: “My considered opinion is that a plebiscite would have to be a genuinely free expression of the people’s will throughout Ireland, on the understanding that the verdict would be applicable to all Ireland.” Mr do Valera, questioned regarding the position if the verdict? favoured an ill-Ireland Dominion, replied that it would create an entirely new situation,, abolishing the complaint, that AngloIrish relationship was forcefully maintained. “Our membership of the British Commonwealth of Nations would then be voluntary,, but a section of the people' would still firmly believe that complete independence was the only status compatible with national aspirations. ’ ’

Although Mr de Valera’s Ministers bqjieve a plebiscite' would result in an overwhelming victory for Republicanism, their opponents are of the opinion that Britain would be wise to aecept the challenge, as a plebiscite, either in the Free State or throughout Ireland, would show a. majority for those wishing to remain in the Empire.

CITIZENSHIP ACT SIGNED,

DUBLIN, Saturday

The Citizenship and Aliens Act has been signed. The Government simultaneously announced tlie exemption of subjects' of the British Commonwealth of Nations from the restrictions of the Aliens Act.

Under the Citizenship Bill the title of a British subject is abolished in favour of “ a citizen of the Irish Free State,” who, however, will be entitled; to claim the privilege of British citizenship as long as the Free State is a member of the British Commonwealth. A message of 6tli November added that as long as the Free State citizens enjoy the privileges of British citizenship outside the Free State the Government in Dublin will undertake to provide all Empire citizens with similar privileges in the Free State.

Speaking on the second reading of the Bill, Mr de Valera emphasised that after it was enacted nobody in the Free State would be a British subject; otherwise all the principles agreed upon at the Imperial Conferences would be jettisoned. It would be an impertinence if Britain claimed as citizens persons who were . obviously citizens of another country. Not one comma of the Bill need, be altered if Ireland were declared! a republic to-morrow.